After leaving the duke’s residence, we left the capital and were dropped off by the carriage in a secluded place, then returned secretly. We decided to stay for one more night. If we were seen getting off the duke’s carriage, we’d stand out.
We hadn’t had a chance to do any sightseeing yet. Even just looking from the carriage, there were so many shops! Truly, this is the capital.
Restaurants, clothing stores, general goods shops, jewelry stores, furniture shops, magic item stores—just about everything seemed available.
Among them, today we came to a magic bookstore, searching for a black sign. I’d tried one in the defense city, but magic-related things were still my focus. This one was bigger than the shop in the defense city, with many books displayed with their covers facing out, and handwritten description cards attached. Near the counter, there was a sign offering magic consultations.
As I’d been told before, though, Sebirino’s works were not available here.
And of course, all the magic books were for spells I already knew, with none related to wide-area attack magic. I guess knowledge of wide-area attack magic isn’t something that should be sold or taught easily?
I spent so much time on research and subjugation that I don’t really know where I stand with common knowledge…
“There’s so much… What should I choose…”
Unexpectedly, Ekvar seemed to be seriously considering his options.
“But you don’t seem to use magic much?”
“Well, it turns out it’s more convenient to have it. Do you have any recommendations?”
I wondered if there had been situations as an adventurer where he had needed magic. It certainly would be useful, but I still didn’t know what kind of spells he used.
“What kind of magic do you usually use?”
“Hmm… Storm Cutter is easy to use for attacks, but the double-handed palm technique is a bit troublesome. For purification, mid-level water healing, breath defense, mostly supporting magic is what I need.”
“I personally like Lava Flare. But with your mana reserves, you might not be able to use other spells. Fire Lady Eight… or, to conserve mana, maybe Fireball?”
I moved toward the shelf of fire attack magic, but Ekvar, for some reason, stood still.
“…Why would you recommend fire?”
“Because it’s your specialty, of course. I saw you secretly practicing at the Duke’s experiment facility. That time, you used wind magic, but there was movement in the fire element. It’s your strong suit, right?”
Ekvar looked at me with a serious expression, listening intently.
“Is that… something anyone can notice?”
“Anyone with a keen eye, like Sebirino-sama or those higher-ups at the lab, would catch it. Anyone who doesn’t notice it couldn’t even make Elixirs or Soma properly. They couldn’t complete the Four Elemental spells either. Many people can’t sense others’ magic, though, unless they use it themselves.”
“…I see, so it’s like that…”
He muttered quietly and nodded. He seemed like he didn’t want this to be known. I wasn’t sure if there was a reason for that or if he was just secretive.
“Sorry, I really do know about those three spells. I just don’t use them.”
“…Should I have pretended not to know?”
“No… thank you for telling me.”
Honestly, even if you deliberately avoid using your strongest element, keeping it a secret is quite difficult. Only people at the top levels who can create the highest-tier items can manage such control.
Well, that means anyone who can notice must be at a similar level.
Those who can’t sense it probably don’t even understand their own strong elements.
“…That’s unfair. Well, let me share something too. My strong element is water, but thanks to a contract effect, fire magic also works well for me.”
“Wait, Iriya , don’t you have a really strong affinity for all elements? I can’t tell the difference between your strongest element and the rest…”
“Well, yeah, I’m strong all around. The mana consumption is different depending on the element, though. But there’s one more thing.”
I realized I hadn’t really asked how others see my magic before.
“One more thing?”
“I’m also strong in light magic. Though I don’t use it much except for purification.”
This one isn’t widely known. One of the reasons I don’t use it is that I’m often with Belial. Light magic makes him uncomfortable, and if I use certain holy-type spells, it purifies the space and weakens his demonic powers.
Darkness and light are higher-level elements than the basic four (earth, water, fire, wind), and while they have strong power, they also consume a lot of mana, so you don’t just use them frequently. Plus, the beginner spells are mostly supportive.
Ekvar blinked. Was he really that surprised?
“Still nothing, huh?”
“No, we don’t have that in stock.”
Just then, a woman’s voice came from behind the bookshelf, cutting off the conversation.
“Ah, nothing here either…”
“I’m sorry.”
It seemed like a customer was talking to the store clerk, disappointed that the magic she was looking for wasn’t available.
“I thought I’d find it here since a woman used it at yesterday’s party…”
Could it be that she was referring to me? Could she be looking for the spell to expose someone’s true identity?
I thought about what to do but decided to approach her.
“Um… what kind of magic are you looking for?”
“Oh! I’m sorry for making a fuss! I heard there’s a magic that shows someone’s true form, so I’ve been looking for it.”
It was definitely about me. Ekvar looked at me as if to ask what I would do.
I couldn’t ignore it, could I?
“I know that spell. Would you like me to tell you about it?”
“Really!? That would help so much…”
Since discussing it in the store wasn’t ideal, we decided to leave. We entered a nearby stylish café and ordered cold herbal tea.
“This is the spell, right?”
I wrote it down on a piece of paper and handed it to her. She was a young woman, perhaps in her late teens, with orange-colored hair. She wore a white shirt with a long-sleeved cardigan over it and knee-length pants with embroidery on the hem.
“Malice merging with the chaos of the crowd, spreading the stench of sin, those who mean me harm, unable to hide. O Heavenly Crimson Mirror, illuminate all, make clear before me.” Sunny Fog.
“This… this is it! The purple-haired mage used it, right? Could you be the one? I thought you had gone back to your homeland…”
“Well, actually, that was a performance. I was seeking protection from the Duke, and that’s how I ended up being invited to the garden party. I don’t want to stand out, so it’s a secret, but I actually live in Renant.”
“The Duke’s…!”
Just as the woman gasped in surprise, a man walking down the corridor stopped and called out.
“I was wondering who was making such a fuss, and it’s you, the servant of Baron Defijo. Don’t you think it’s time to go back to the countryside?”
His tone was condescending and unpleasant.
The woman whispered to me.
“That’s Count Matvei Abakarov. He’s awful.”
The servant behind him smiled awkwardly, as if trying to smooth things over.
“If you came to my place, I could offer you better treatment…”
The count was in his late thirties, with short brown hair, a well-tailored blouse, and a fine-looking coat.
He locked his gaze on me. Is he one of those men who can’t resist a woman? He seemed to have been eyeing the woman next to me for some time.
“Oh, you’re with a cute girl, aren’t you? How about I let you work for me?”
“No, thank you.”
I immediately rejected him, and he frowned, twisting his mouth into a grimace.
“If you become my mistress, I’ll give you a good life…”
Before he could finish, Ekvar’s sword sheath was pressed against his chin.
“That’s enough. I will not allow you to speak such vile words to my lady.”
So, that’s the route we’re taking.
As expected, Count Abakarov ‘s bodyguard moved. However, the count saw Ekvar’s D-rank adventurer badge and snorted.
“So this bodyguard is just a D-rank adventurer. He can’t come inside the shop, but come, I’ll teach you some manners.”
“I’m very curious how well someone who doesn’t know proper etiquette can teach.”
“…You lowborn!”
…What a thoroughly unpleasant man. Wasn’t he at the garden party yesterday? Doesn’t he see Ekvar’s sword?
“Excuse me… I’m sorry for dragging you into this. My name is Tura. I was hoping to ask the baron for help…”
“You should refrain from that. If it’s a count, it would only make the baron’s position worse. Leave this to me.”
After leaving the store, the woman seemed to be trying to run toward her employer. She seemed nervous, but if the baron intervened now, it would only make things worse. Where was Count Abakarov headed?
He rode off in his carriage, and we were left to walk toward the outskirts of town, following the remaining bodyguards.
“We have the Duke’s protection, so if anything happens, we can rely on him.”
“That’s very reassuring…”
Tura whispered quietly, and I could hear her exhale a long breath, clearly relieved.
Still, there was a nervous air about her. They led us to an empty, open area. Whether there were never people there or if Count Abakarov had cleared the area ahead of time, I couldn’t tell.
The carriage was left in front of the square, and the count’s attendants were waiting there.
“Well, it’s your turn.”
When the count called out, nearly twenty men appeared from behind the building.
“Take care of that rude one!”
He certainly seemed to be accustomed to situations like this. The pattern was familiar—forcefully courting a woman, showcasing violence toward men who tried to intervene, making them beg for mercy, and then doing as he pleased.
Tura looked like she might start crying. It might be effective, but…
“If we’re going by the count’s style, would you call this entertainment?”
“Is that not enough for you?”
With an iron sword drawn, Ekvar smiled confidently.
Based on Ekvar’s movements, it seemed I wouldn’t even need to use magic.
As the men slowly approached, Ekvar suddenly accelerated, charging straight into the center of the group. He knocked one man down by striking the pommel of his sword against the man’s stomach. As another swung a sword at him, Ekvar parried with a sideways strike, the dull sound of the sword hitting armor ringing out.
“Ha! You called out even though I’m coming from behind?! How foolish!”
He shouted as if he’d been waiting for the attack, spinning around, parrying with his sword, and immediately retaliating with a slash to the man’s arm. He then took a step forward, slashing another man.
In an instant, several men were down. I knew Ekvar was strong, but his skills surpassed my expectations. He was clearly used to fighting multiple opponents.
The men, surprised by the sudden offensive, rushed toward Ekvar one after the other. He quickly assessed the situation, scanning the area for weak points and dodging their attacks while taking them down one by one.
“So, what happened? Didn’t you say you’d teach me manners? Or is crouching in the dirt the Count’s way of doing things?!”
…It seems he becomes quite combative when his excitement rises.
The noise gradually started to settle, and the count was rendered speechless. The people he’d belittled as D-rank adventurers had surrounded him with a large group, yet they couldn’t even land a single blow.
Suddenly, Count Abakarov glared at me and stalked toward me, his strides heavy.
“Now that this has happened, I’ll use you!”
He reached out, likely intending to take me hostage. I stood still.
As his hand approached, flames suddenly ignited around him.
“You don’t even have the right to touch my contractor!”
As Count Abakarov swung his arm in an attempt to extinguish the fire, a fiery red figure landed between us—Belial, the demon.
“Hi… hiiii!”
Count Abakarov , letting out a pitiful cry, managed to put out the fire. By the time he did, Ekvar was the only one left standing among the fighters.
He swung his sword and sheathed it.
“…Boring. Fighting weak opponents is no fun, no matter how many there are.”
“Exactly. If you’re going to, you might as well have tamed a dragon or something.”
With people like him and Belial around me, it seems I’m surrounded by combative men.
It seemed Count Abakarov had realized that Belial was a demon, likely due to the word “contractor,” and he quickly fled, leaving behind the fallen men and his bodyguards.
Tura, surprised by Ekvar’s swordsmanship and Belial’s appearance, repeatedly expressed her astonishment.
“Ah, thank you! I hope the count learns his lesson from this…”
“Well, those small-time villains are usually hard to discourage. But don’t worry, I’ll present evidence of his other wrongdoings to the Duke. You don’t need to worry, dear lady.”
At Ekvar’s playful remark, Tura blushed. I feel bad for her, as he says such things to everyone, but if it makes her happy, that’s fine.
In the end, we didn’t get to explore the store much, and had to leave the capital.
Tura paid for her magic tome with the fees for the magic lessons, and when I asked about her intentions, she explained that she wanted to use the magic that reveals the truth to prevent the mischief of foxes in disguise.
I’m glad the reason was peaceful enough.
